Administrative Staff

Dr. Michael Nickens – Executive Director

Dr. Michael W. Nickens completed his academic degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, Yale University, and the University of Michigan. He joined the faculty of the George Mason University School of Music in fall 2006 as Director of the Pep Band (Doc Nix and the Green Machine) and as an Assistant Professor of Music. At Mason, he teaches courses in sight-singing/ear training, popular music in America, an improvisatory music ensemble, brass methods, is co-director of the George Mason University Symphonic Band, and regularly collaborates with the George Mason University School of Dance. During the summers he has taught tuba, jazz performance, improvisation, chamber music, and theory at the Performing Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary and the Northern Arizona University Music Camp in Flagstaff, Arizona.

He draws on his experiences as a former marching member of the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps, the James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes, the Yale Precision Marching Band, and as a drum major and marching member of the Spirit of America National Honor Band. He is active as a composer/arranger, and clinician working with a variety of marching programs around the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. These programs include Annandale High School, Thomas A. Edison High School, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Fairfax High School, West Potomac High School, Mount Vernon High School, Damascus High School, South County High School and Falls Church High School. Other programs include Franklin Central and Warren Central High Schools in Indiana, Farmington High School in Michigan, the Vision Elite Drum and Bugle Corps in Brooklyn, New York.

Chris Martin – Director

Chris Martin founded The Mean Green with Dr. Michael Nickens in 2007, the school’s first ever marching ensemble. Under his direction, The Mean Green achieved Finalist status in their first year of PIO competition at WGI Nationals and has continued to grow and improve each year.  Since 1999, Chris has been arranging, designing and consulting for indoor percussion at several schools including Thomas Edison, West Springfield, Chantilly, Thomas Jefferson and Freedom.
In addition to actively teaching, Chris has been a member of the United States Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass in Washington DC since 1997. A graduate of Florida State University, he has been instructing and arranging for the FSU Marching Chiefs “Big 8″ drumline since 1992. Chris is a proud member of the Vic Firth Education Team as well as being an educator for Pearl/Adams percussion and Evans Drumheads.

Design Team

Kevin Shah – Front Ensemble Arranger/Sound Design

Michael Neubert – Visual Designer

Michael Neubert has been an active drill designer/program consultant since 2000. Since then he has taught such prestigious groups such as The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and The Miami University Marching Band. His attributes include 6 D.C.I. World Championships as well as winning the High Visual Trophy several times during his teaching career with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps.  Michael is very excited to be working with George Mason University this season!

Instructional Staff

Omar Carmenates – Program Consultant

Omar Carmenates is currently the Assistant Professor of Percussion at Furman University in Greenville, SC where he oversees all aspects of the percussion program including classical, jazz, and world percussion studies. In addition to his duties at Furman, Dr. Carmenates was also the Percussion Caption Head and Arranger for the internationally-renowned Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps from 2007-2009. While at the Crusaders, Dr. Carmenates was also a member design team and oversaw all aspects of the percussion program. Omar’s teaching and writing credits in the marching percussion idiom also include arrangements and original works for groups such as the Beatrix Drum and Bugle Corps from Hilversum, Holland, Infinity Indoor Percussion, Timber Creek Independent, the Florida State University Marching Chiefs, the Furman University Paladin Regiment, and numerous other high school programs across the United States. As an adjudicator, clinician and lecturer, Carmenates has also appeared at various festivals and events throughout the world including the Yogyakarta Marching Band Camp in Indonesia and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Carmenates is a proud endorser/clinician for Vic Firth, Inc. Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, and Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments.

Matt Hartwell – Visual Caption Head

Matt Hartwell is originally from Salem, VA where he graduated from Salem High School in 2004. After high school he began his college career at Morehead State University studying Euphonium under Dr. Stacy Baker. After deciding to change majors he transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA to study Business.

In 2004 he marched Baritone with Capital Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Columbus, OH. In 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 he was a member of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle corps from Rosemont, IL playing both Baritone and Tuba. In 2007 he had the honor to perform with The Aimachi Marching Band from Nagoya, Japan playing Tuba.

Matt currently resides and teaches in the Richmond area. He has taught and designed for Powhatan High School’s Indoor Drum line since 2007. He also teaches and consults several high schools in the Mid Atlantic Region. When not in school or teaching Matt enjoys hiking/backpacking, camping, modeling, tennis, four wheeling, dancing, fishing, and watching ESPN.

Chris Garay – Battery Instructor/Snare Technician

Chris Garay has taught drumset and rudimental percussion privately to students in both New Jersey and Virginia, and he has instructed drumlines from George Mason University, Chantilly High School, Fauquier County High School, and Albemarle High School. His performance career as a snare drummer includes the University of Virginia Drumline, the Jersey Surf, United Percussion, the Cadets, and the Bluecoats. During this time he has studied under such marching percussion legends as Michael McIntosh, Bret Kuhn, Tim Maynard, Tom Aungst, and Chris Vale.

Chris is originally from New Jersey, where he graduated with high honors from Delaware Valley Regional High School. He recently completed his undergraduate work at the University of Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Chris Leone – Bass Technician

Chris Leone has been studying and performing music since the fourth grade. Originally a drum set player, Chris began studying concert percussion in high school under Christopher Thomas. His focus on the marching activity intensified upon his enrollment at the University of Delaware. Chris was a member of the University of Delaware marching band and pep band for all four years at the University. Chris’ drum corps experience is exclusively with the Cavaliers drum and bugle corps. He was a member of the DCI World Championship corps in 2006 playing bass 1 and was on staff in 2007 as bass instructor.

Upon receiving his bachelor degree in business administration, Chris was invited to Japan by the Aimachi percussion ensemble. While at Aimachi, Chris split rolls as bass sensei and bass 2, performing in the 2007 fall marching band season as well as the 2008 WGI bronze medal production, “Drum Roll.” In Chris’ performing career, he has had the privilege to play under Jim Ancona, Jim Casella, Bret Kuhn, Uichi Kajiyama, and Jaime Alvarez-Calderon.

Chris currently resides in Richmond, VA working full time as both the internet marketing manager for a local web solutions firm and as an internet marketing consultant. Besides music, Chris’ passions include biking, traveling the world, and his internet projects.

Mike Madaio – Bass Drum Technician

Mike is a percussion instructor and arranger living and working in the DC metropolitan area. He marched bass drum for 5 years with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from 2004-2008, and served as percussion section leader in 07 and 08. Since then, he taught bass line at the Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps, an Open Class corps from Wayne, NJ, in 2009 and 2010. Additionally, Mike has worked with several high school drum lines in the area, such as Calvert Hall High School in Towson, MD, and Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA, where he is currently the percussion caption head and arranger for their outdoor and indoor marching ensembles. He has his BA in English and his Masters in Education from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is currently on his third year of teaching English at a high school in Montgomery County, MD.

Kevin Thorburn – Battery Instructor

Kevin Thorburn was first introduced to marching percussion during his freshman year of high school. Since then he has been a member of several world class ensembles including the 2004 Crossmen, 2006 Madison Scouts, 2007 Bluecoats, and the 2008 & 2009 Rhythm X Percussion Ensemble. Kevin has been an instructor for the Centerville World Drumline as well as the Powhatan Indoor Percussion Ensemble and has had the privilege of learning from some of marching percussion’s top educators including Mike McIntosh, Tim Fairbanks, Brett Kuhn, Lee Beddis, and Colin McNutt. Aside from percussion, Kevin’s hobbies include reading, poker, and playing with his pug Max.

Brett Garrett – Battery Instructor

Brett Garrett is originally from Waycross, Ga. He attended Jacksonville State University where he was a proud member of the Marching Southerners Drumline from 1994-98. Brett’s extensive marching experience includes the 1995 WGI World Champion Atlanta Rhythm Machine, 1995 Spirit of Atlanta and the Santa Clara Vanguard in 1997. He was also a member of The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps from 1999 to 2005.

Brett has also been an instructor for the Magic of Orlando, the Colts and the Crossmen. Locally he has taught the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology where the Indoor Drumline was recently awarded the 2008 Atlantic Indoor Association’s Silver Medal in Open Class competition.

Mario Taylor – Cymbal Technician

Mario Taylor began his marching career at Escambia High School in Pensacola, FL and then with the first year of Eminence Indoor Percussion Ensemble in 2003.  He was in the cymbal line at Spirit from Jacksonville State University in 2003 and 2004. For both seasons, the Spirit cymbal ensemble finished first place in the Cymbal I&E competition.  From there he marched with The Crossmen for 2005 and 2006 where he was recognized with the Most Outstanding Cymbal Player award for two years running.  Mario aged out with Music City Mystique in 2007.

His teaching experience includes various high schools including Escambia High School, Tate High School, Pace High School, Pine Forest High School and Fort Walton Beach High School.  He also taught the cymbal line for Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2007 season and returned to Spirit of JSU to be the cymbal instructor for the 2008 & 2009 seasons.  He has also been a cymbal technician with Music City Mystique since 2008.

Wayne Gibson – Front Ensemble Technician

Wayne Gibson is a native of Calvert County, Maryland, where he graduated from Patuxent High School in 2004.  He then attended the University of Delaware and earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering and his minor in Biochemical Engineering in 2008.  Currently, he lives back in Calvert County again and works as a chemical engineer at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant.

Wayne’s experience with front ensembles started back in his freshman year of high school in the Patuxent High School Marching Band.  This experience led him to join and play in front ensembles in DCI groups such as the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps (02-03) and the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps (06-08).  For the 2009 WGI season, he was the pit section leader of the PIW world champion indoor drum line, Rhythm X.  Wayne also was a member of the University of Delaware Marching Band (04, 06-07).

Greg Tsalikis – Front Ensemble Technician

Born in Annapolis, Maryland, Greg Tsalikis has been studying and performing music for over 25 years. He has had the pleasure of performing in all facets of percussion ranging from rudimental, to orchestral, world, jazz, rock, and contemporary chamber ensembles. Graduating from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Greg performed with a vast number of shows and conventions as a freelance percussionist, as well as being recorded on the Klavier record label with the UNLV Wind Orchestra, and had the opportunity to tour China and Australia as a ragtime xylophone soloist. Greg then earned his Masters in performance from the prestigious Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. There, he performed as soloist with the Houston Wind Symphony, and was a section percussionist and timpanist with the world renowned Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra. Also, Greg has had the honor of serving as the timpanist for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps for six seasons before aging out in 2005. Currently, Greg is the Front Ensemble Coordinator for the DCA 10 Time World Champion Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps, and he is the Front Ensemble Arranger for the Towson University Marching Band. He is thrilled, this year, to be on the Front Ensemble staff for the George Mason University Indoor Percussion Ensemble.

Stephen Mark – Front Ensemble Technician

Stephen Mark is a native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida in Okaloosa County, where he graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School in 2006. Currently, He lives in Fairfax County and works as a draftsman for the Smithsonian Institution’s Technical Security Division.

Stephen was a member of Music City Mystique, playing vibraphone in 2007 and synthesizer in 2008. After moving to the Washington Metropolitan area he performed his age out show with George Mason University in 2010 as center marimba.

Stephen’s teaching experience includes Fort Walton Beach High (2006-2009), Crestview High School (2006-2007), Fairfax High School (2009-Present), and Yorktown High School (2010-Present). He has also worked as a Floor Design Consultant for Fort Walton Beach HS, Pine Forest HS, Independence HS, Fairfax HS, Yorktown HS, and Chantilly HS.

Chris Auman – Tenor Technician

Chris Auman is from Richmond, VA where he graduated from Godwin High School and completed his B.S. in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Chris’s marching experience includes 5 years of drum corps with Carolina Gold Senior Corps (2006), Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps (2007 & 2008), Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps (2009), and finally aging out with Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2010). During this time he studied under Danny Raymond, Jr., Rich Hammond, Shane Gwaltney, Zach Schlicher, and Lee Beddis. Chris finished his marching career with George Mason in 2011. He has been an instructor with Godwin High School Fall and Indoor percussion program since 2006.

Tim Wood – Battery Technician

Tim has been studying rudimental percussion since he was 16. In 2008 he marched with the Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps, in 2009 with the Madison Scouts and in 2010 with Rhythm X. Tim is currently teaching Poquoson High School, Kecoughtan High School, Christopher Newport’s indoor drumline and George Mason. Tim enjoys teaching, spending time with drum-people, yo-yo’s and Chris Garay.